So, I was so excited when I first opened my board. It was my first board, my first time admining, and when it did not die after 3 weeks I was ecstatic. Now I just... it's not that I've lost my enthusiasm, necessarily. I still love my board, and I have no intention of being one of those admins that loses interest and walks away from their own creation.

I just feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle in a lot of ways. I'm just not getting the help I need with things. I sort of had it out with one of my staff today, because they weren't doing the duties they already had and yet wanted more. I feel bad about chastising them, but I've been doing a lot of the work myself lately and I just need people to do what they are already supposed to be doing without wanting more power. None of the regular members want to advertise, so I'm not getting much help on that front. One of my other mods is great, advertising her heart out and keeping things up-to-date, but she's busy lately and now I feel like I'm alone.

I also feel like I'm just not getting any appreciation from my members. I'm constantly thanking them, but not really getting that feeling in return. And then I'm almost afraid to make decisions about the board for fear of angering them.

For example, my original vision was to have a very literate intermediate site, but I'm been struggling to get my members to really use correct grammar and post a decent length, especially with a few of the important canons. I don't know how to try to fix this without upsetting people. I guess I'm too much a people pleaser, but there you have it. I don't want to be that evil admin that everyone thinks is too controlling.

So... help! I put up an announcement seeking another staff member, so hopefully that will help. Does anyone else have an advice on how to deal with all of this?

I think realistically, the only way to really make sure that you get the standard of writers that you're looking for is to be stricter at the application stage. It will lead to drama at some point though, because no one likes to be told they're not good enough. At the site I run, probably less than 50% of people who apply actually get accepted. It means we're maybe smaller than I like, but I'd rather have a higher quality of writing than a larger number of members.

Regarding staff activity, I have got no idea. I run my own board entirely on my own. I sometimes ask for advice from friends, but no one had any actual duties. In the past when I've shared responsibility, my co-admins have always been people I know I can trust.

Member appreciation? I sadly, suspect you're stuck with the way your people are. Some players will be lovely and appreciative and others will treat you like you owe them your time as admin. As a side note, how active are things OOC? I try to make everyone feel welcome as much as I can, giving everyone their own 'welcome to the board' topic and stuff. I suspect that making folks feel welcome may encourage feelings of appreciation, buuuuuut I don't know how everyone would have acted if I hadn't done this, so I can't say for sure.

Maybe don't try to "fix" anyone who's already a member, but try to be stricter on the new people coming in. If you don't think you can handle rejecting people (which is also a problem for me), then maybe, if you have an application process, you could hire some staff to go through character apps for you. Pick some people who're good writers, fairly picky, and don't care what the hell other people think. xDD

WELL noted, Jae. I agree completely. I had the same problem with I opened Thiasa: people just weren't that good, and I didn't want to reject because it was such a new site.

But the fact is, you'll get more good members if you uphold a standard than if you let your board be overrun by people who can't write. Suck it up and start rejecting--that's my advice.

I, being a coldhearted bastard, even went so far as to demand a reapplication from all of my members at one point to up the standard of the site. Yes, I did reject some I had once accepted. Dirty business, but it worked: Thiasa is flourishing, and we have TONS of great writers.

So go figure.

Exactly right. First point: you don't want members with sticks up their butts anyway. You're the admin, you set the standard and if anyone gets their knickers in a knot over being told they're not up to scratch, let it roll off your back. You're not unreasonable, you're making sure your members are all on the same page. Never, ever let anyone tell you that you don't have the right to say, 'no'. You have every right. Don't settle for a lesser standard just because you don't want to come off as a bitch. People are touchy, you will never leave them completely satisfied.

Second point: bring your own writing into question. Review it, see where you can make improvements, go and lurk at a board with the standards you want, and look at the techniques they use. This way you are able to apply it to your own writing and lead by example. Explain what you want to do with your staff and get them to do the same. If you tell them you need them to back you up, they'll feel useful.

Third point: Don't carry dead weight when it comes to staff. The staff member who is asking for more without doing their original tasks, be firm with them and explain your reasons. Tell them they won't be getting any more work until they start doing what you originally asked--everyone has to pitch in, picking and choosing isn't an option because hey, even you have to do things on the board you would rather someone else handled. You do it because you want the site to function and it won't if you don't do your jobs.

Place importance upon the tasks you've given them and make sure they begin fulfilling them. Then, when you're happy after a few weeks that they've settled into a routine, SURPRISE! give them more stuff to do, like they wanted. Don't forget to place importance on this too, though, and don't forget periodic explosions of thanks to your staff and members. This is a good morale booster.

Thanks so much everyone! This is all great advice and it definately helps. I guess I'll just have to toughen up and find a way to politely tell people their application or writing isn't up to par. If it's a canon, I'll encourage them to apply for an original instead or something.

Hi Castaway!

That's an awful pity. You advertised with us and I was seriously considering signing up for Shannon myself but I floundered too long and it was taken! It seems like a great site and quite original.


Being Admin is hard work!. I have a co admin who works so hard. I'd be lost without her, but even then, its a lot of work. I'm considering giving up my characters and just being Admin cos its becoming too much for me.

I agree with all the advice given you already by everyone here. In regards to literacy, that is tricky. Unfortunately sometimes you find that people are rping on a few different forums and their energy is sapped and so they don't put effort into posts on your forum. Either that, or they are just not used to RPing. It's something that takes practice. You might have to take the hard route and say that your site is only for advanced players and ask for a good rp sample to support applications. Though, the downside of that is that you might not get players as a result!

You seem like a nice admin to me, be respectful of members but ensure that you have their respect too by ensuring that they follow the rules. All you can do is your best. Don't feel you have to do everything on your own though. Get staff members that will do the work that you ask them too and also, will take the initiative to do work on their own. You shouldn't have to hold their hand, otherwise, you need to find new staff!

Hope that helps in some way and doesn't confuse you more!

Ise

castaway, I know exactly how you feel. I've just recently had to talk to all my admin about the lack of help they give me. It's really frustrating because all my admins are friends of mine, so it makes it a rather un-happy situation. It's really draining though to have to do it all yourself.

I often feel like running a site is an up-hill battle so you are not alone there. It's in many ways a thankless job, because people just expect that you'll do things and often don't realise how much work you put into things. Like to hear "could you make a skin thats more manly.." right after you have spent just about a full days work on a new skin, it's frustrating.

Don't give up hope though, Even if the members don't seem like they appreciate you, they do. If you stopped being an admin for a few days they'd really miss you.